中式英语之鉴

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Unnecessary Nouns and Verbs  
The authors emphasize that many nouns and verbs in Chinglish are redundant because their meanings are already implied by other words in the sentence. For example, phrases like "living standards for the people" are redundant because "living standards" inherently refer to people. Similarly, verbs like "make" or "conduct" often add no value, as in "make an improvement," where "improve" alone suffices.  
The authors suggest simplifying sentences by removing these unnecessary elements. For instance, "accomplish the transformation" can be replaced with "transform," and "conduct an examination" with "examine." This approach makes sentences more concise and direct.  

Unnecessary Modifiers  
Modifiers, such as adjectives and adverbs, are often overused in Chinglish. Many of these words are redundant because their meanings are already implied by the nouns or verbs they modify. For example, "mutual cooperation" is redundant because cooperation is inherently mutual. Similarly, "new innovations" is unnecessary since innovations are always new.  
The authors also criticize the overuse of intensifiers like "very" or "extremely," which often weaken rather than strengthen a sentence. For example, "very important" can be replaced with "essential" or "crucial" for a stronger impact.  


The core message of this chapter is to strive for clarity and conciseness in English writing. By eliminating unnecessary nouns, verbs, and modifiers, writers can produce more natural and effective English. This principle is particularly important for Chinese learners, who often transfer the冗长 style of Chinese into English.  
In summary, Chapter 1 provides practical guidance for avoiding common pitfalls in Chinglish, helping learners write more like native speakers. By focusing on simplicity and clarity, readers can significantly improve their English writing skills.